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Aloha, friends! So here we go again. Another NEW MOON. New Moon in Sagittarius – I wrote everything that I didn’t want to make part of my experience anymore on a sheet of paper last night and burned it to ashes.

Scorpio was a bender for a lot of us. I don’t know about you, but a lot of the last moon cycle felt like ethereal CHAOS. Just a few days ago, I felt my solar plexus open up. I said aloud – you know what?! Fuck this shit. I’m not playing small anymore. I’m done with this – people, things, situations… Fuck it. And if my cursing offends you, I’m not sorry.

When our truth is compromised and suppressed, especially now, the chances of getting restless, anxious, and angry will result in revolt and further expansion.

Time to awaken. Time to feel alive. Time to break the chains. Time to fire the arrow. Time to rise like the Phoenix. What do you REALLY want? No time to play small anymore. We are giants here. Think about it – here we are, a massive floating rock in the inner circle of planets, somehow continuously thriving (despite all of the people doing demonic things to our water, air, soil, food, planet) while other planets are being ripped apart by asteroids, storms, jet streams, black holes, other stars, etc. And still, here we are.

I have been meditating on the idea of a snake’s molting transformation. The snake (this also applies to lobsters, spiders, butterflies, etc.) is anything but pleasant. The snake will go into a period of shedding its skin, which also causes the snake to lose its sight. The snake will lash out and everything – and after some time, the snake develops a shiny new skin and slithers on. When we transform, it’s not always going to be this “love and light” people talk about as we “consciously evolve”. We must flow with these changes. And through these changes, we are reborn.

It is critical in this time to GO FOR IT – entrepreneurial business, talents, passions, etc. Don’t give in to the pressures of Piscean paradigms. The time is NOW. Truth will prevail. Sagittarius is the Archer. The Truthseeker, and with all going on in Standing Rock, we must raise the energy to help our brothers and sisters fighting the good fight.

This is the time for us to bond together in collaboration. We are not meant to be in solitude from one another. The perfect time for communication, artistic projects, etc.

While Law of Attraction-based learning, motivational/inspirational speakers, listening to others talk about their journey, etc. are all great things, I’ve realized that even in all of this good, there is such thing as “overkill”. It’s sorta like being highly empathic and walking into a room of 100,000 people. Even if the vibes are high and inspirational, the empath will “freak out”.

I’ve realized that this is where I am at. I’ve listened over and over about mindset training, and let’s get real – every speaker pretty much says the same thing in different ways. It’s an easily understood thing. The thing that hindered me though – it’s not the fact that I couldn’t think these things or trust in these things – it’s almost like an addiction. The alcoholic can’t put down the drink. The cigarette smoker needs to smoke when the craving comes. For the inspirational ones, OH! I SHOULD LISTEN TO ABRAHAM HICKS! ________ HAS A NEW VIDEO/PODCAST UP! … Addiction.

The tools are there. I have all of the tools – including the greatest one of all – my intuition. When something doesn’t feel good, it’s because I’m not supposed to dive in there. When I ask for clarity, it’s because I am not sure of myself, when I have every right to be (successful, divinely guided, clearly pointed).

All pieces are part of the journey. Even if I am doing say… Shivaya Healing Arts one day, Gratitude Rx another day, something else the next day, NOTHING the day after that (space (to manifestation)). And everything I have learned along the way loops around to inspire the other pieces.

Have you ever heard the phrase “too much of a good thing”? Suppose… you knew nothing about the Law of Attraction. Then you started to dive in. You got hooked. Now all of the sudden, everything is energy. Before you started learning about this stuff, everything just “was”. You just did your thing. If something didn’t feel good, and you REALLY had no desire for it, you simply didn’t do it. Now there are all of these “rules” attached.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a spiritual being, rules go out the window, yet here we are, following RULES once again. Rules. Laws. Whatever. Too much thought. There was no thought before you knew of these manifesting “practices”.

This leads me to believe that we learn all of this “stuff”, but how often do we just let it INTEGRATE without thinking about it. “Oh I’m not feeling in a good place. QUICK. MUST CHANGE VIBRATION TO MANIFEST _______”. That right there is resistance. Whatever happened to just letting feelings play out? Everything has a dissipation point, right? When you get mad, eventually the anger burns away, and you can climb your way up to happy, right? What about those times where we would be talking to our friends like “Oh man… I can’t wait until I get that ______. It’s going to be sooo cool!” You can do as Wayne Dyer says, speaking from the end as if you already have it… but sometimes speaking about something you don’t have gets weird. So maybe don’t speak of it at all and just be happy in the thought of it.

You see? Everything in this post is a learned thing. There’s no need to over-listen. You already know this stuff. Just be it – and be grateful.

Santa Barbara has been a constant string of sync moments from the second I left LA. To think that Divine Guidance put me here led to the realization ‘What else will come if I just let go?’ I came here with the intention of spiritual solidarity and an environment that supports my deepest desires – spirituality, nature, healing, yoga, great friends, and a ‘rebirth.’

I find it rather a-musing that I have been trying to write this blog now for well over 11 days and am just NOW putting myself into the flow to finish it. Could it be all of these synchronous events unfolding one-by-one? It’s rather insane, if you ask me. Insane in a good way – something I’m not entirely used to.

The original intent of this blog was to write about the Wise Owl Healing Fair, but so much more has happened since then. It almost seems like two weeks feels more like two months. But things are amazing and they are building beyond what I have ever known.

The fair was the fiery genesis what has now become a furious passion. As thirty something people locked hands to illuminate the start of the Wise Owl, It was not soon after that I met my spirit brother that I had longed to see for so long, Mahadeva Vodopija. The essence of his presence is so potent; I can clearly see why he and Anya Lei fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

I learned so much about myself that day. I felt as if I was shedding skin. Becoming anew. But then again, I was. Swept away by the sound healing of Luna Love and David Jesse Kennet, juxtaposed into Shakti bliss by the angelic voice of Anya Zama Deva, grounded with life force energy via Matthew Jones, whisked into the dance by Nicky LeFleur, Lisa Beck and the Djun Djun Mamas, and lastly, blessed with an angelic ‘galactivation’ with Dr. Dream.

I walked away with my spirit rising higher than ever. New friends. New ventures. And a dream that isn’t a dream any longer, but rather, reality while awake – LUCIDITY FESTIVAL. Armed with a tuning fork set to the cosmic musical scale, prepare to be awakened and reinforced with life energy as the steady tone integrates into your being.

Which made me think… What is my path now? The answer has come. Since the Wise Owl, Consciousness Camp 1 brought a new opportunity to me last weekend – my Reiki I attunement, set to happen this Saturday at Equinox.

I find it so very interesting that, with the breath of spring, feminine energies jump up like the flame on a candlewick. But the synchronicities don’t end here. Following my attunement to Reiki, next I will be attuned by the energies of nature, thanks to my wonderful friend, Erin Mackley. I feel so blessed to have all of these moments falling into line – from my healing practices taking off, to solidifying a blissful life in surroundings I love, to my plans for the future.

‘5’ has been following me since the day I got here. And what does 5 mean exactly?

— Buckle your seatbelts. A major life change is upon you. This change should not be viewed as being “positive” or “negative” since all change is but a natural part of life’s flow. Perhaps this change is an answer to your prayers, so continuing seeing and feeling yourself to be at peace.

Even today, the number appeared endlessly, as if on a cosmic acid trip with Sesame Street playing as the backdrop.

Another very interesting synchronicity is in that Adrienne, the owner of Power of Your OM (http://powerofyourom.com) Yoga is from the same suburb of Chicago as I, as well as having graduated high school the same year at a rival school. Trip out, right? Synchronicity? I think so.

With all of this happening so fast, I realize what my truth is, and I have set my plan to put life into motion. $45 for unlimited yoga will intensify my practice. Follow this up with 200 and 500 hour teacher trainings. From here, I will go back to Santa Monica to complete yoga teacher training at Bhakti Yoga Shala, as well as Govindas’ Kirtan Intensive. That is, of course, in addition to achieving Reiki II and Reiki Master levels… And the same for Karuna Reiki. Add to that, my octagonal dream healing center/studio and a voyage to India to learn with the revered masters. You now have a view into my present and future.

I haven’t written in some time, so I thought I’d put this up before heading to my world of dreamy bliss! I must say, what a DAY! What a week, actually. Well… Almost. Since being here in Santa Barbara, I have seen larger-than-life transformations for myself.

It took a few days for reality to set in, but now that I am at my clearest mind state, I can write uninterrupted with full clarity of my thoughts. I left Los Angeles upon the notion that things just weren’t working out. Jobs weren’t hiring me. Living situation had rolled downhill… I had a choice – try to survive or start something new.

So I decided to leave this ‘life’ behind and find a ride to Santa Barbara, where spirit sister, Aurora Wesman was waiting for me. The ride out with Danielle Netko was a great one! Flowing conversation the whole way. Very inspiring too, may I add. Listening to someone talk about the adventures of her life was so inspiring to me. It was here that I said to myself, “What have I been doing for the last ten years? Just trying to make it out alive?” Just like the Alpha 2 track, ‘Let it Go,’ “Do you ever wonder what it means to be alive? Or have you been too busy just trying to survive? This is your life. Don’t let it pass you by. Enjoy each moment before you die!”

To finally let go and just let the universe flow has been a great experience in itself. I asked the universe for a few things when my time expired in LA – nature, water, organic food stores, a place where few knew my name… All of these things would help me purify my spirit and start with a “clean slate.” Upon arriving, I found that the universe had heard my beckon and responded.

The first few days weren’t easy, however. It seemed as if I was going through some sort of Los Angeles withdrawl. Usually come nighttime, I felt extremely drained and tired. Others have reported the same when transporting from SB to LA. I’m mostly through it now. I’ve also realized that many non-organic foods now make me sick. So I’m back on to a serious health kick.

As a promise to myself, I require five things of myself daily – yoga, meditation, running/exercise, good eating, and being good to my body. 99% of the 6 days I have been here, I have done all of this. It feels good to know that I am on a ‘road to recovery’ after all of the damage I’ve been doing to my body over the time I was down south. The air is a lot cleaner here too, which allows me to breathe better.

My friend and former instructor, Crystal Erickson has made the transport down here too, so I’ve got friends not too far away from me! It’s a three mile walk across town, unlike LA which takes forever and a day to get across.

I write this blog as life is about to cross over into a new direction. Thinking back to months previous to this, I said that things were going change drastically on 3/3/13. I sit here now, at 2:15 am with a ton of hope, love, and inspiration in my heart for what is to come. As it stands right now, I have the basics – my breath, my life, my gratitude. Tomorrow, I have two job interviews, and it remains to be seen where I’m going to be living and with whom. But I fear not. Heart is filled up with love and trust in divinity. I’ve been seeing a lot of 1s, 5s and 7s lately. So it seems everything is going in this synchronous flow. Even readings from the daily book of prayers and meditations, music and signs are all in sync. This includes the friends I’ve been conversing with over the last few days.

I went to the Ananda Ashrama today with Dillon Ross, and it was absolutely amazing… even more enlightening than the last time I was there three weeks ago. The choir was excellent today, and the sermon was just what I needed to hear for the current stage in my life. Today talked about going with the flow, trusting in divinity and doing what makes you happy. There was a good piece that Mother spoke about regarding fear, and I am glad to say that at this current moment, I am not fearful for what is in front of me, but rather excited. I see this as a big change for me – time to finally break free of everything that’s held me back for many years.

In addition to the service, I also met Mother. And at first I wasn’t sure that I could handle talking to her with her intense energy, but after seeing how warm and welcoming she was, I shook her hand and introduced myself as ‘Bhagavate.’ She gasped and gave me a hug, exclaiming, “The Divine is here with us!” This made me chuckle. The Ashram is becoming such a delightful place to me.

The rest of the day was spent hanging out with friends, making music and getting ready for today’s life change. I feel so confident. I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all of those who stood by me, tolerated my ups and downs, and always believed in me.

I felt intrigued to open the Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers, and this is the lesson for today –

Only when we are ready to give up without calculation or fear of results, are we able to do big things. Renunciation always brings freedom from self-limitation. It removes something that is alien to our true nature. When the bigger thing comes, the lesser thing is wiped out. The wiping out of the lesser leaves room for the larger, more heroic impulses of the heart.

The week is nearly over but I thought I’d follow up to the blog on kirtan that I last posted. After a mighty Community Kirtan on Monday night, I began thinking about the longterm effects of those who sing.

A typical kirtan verse would begin with Govindas singing a selection of mantras/bhajans, and we as a group would respond by singing back. After a few rounds, a Kirtankar would be selected to sing the mantra solo. There were a few I really admired this night. Sure, we’ve got a lot of amazing voices that attend, but there are some that aren’t exactly ‘on pitch.’ What impresses me most about these people though, is their passion and confidence.

Truth is… everyone is able sing, and no one should hide their voice simply because they aren’t “good.” Good… Bad… Mediocre… These words are only perceptions. For example, I find myself often listening to the Shree Radhay MantrabySri Shyanji Bhatnagar.

Sri has a very thin voice, but the passion he displays through his words is readily noticeable. The words go straight to the heart…

So what are the real physiological effects of singing? ‘A study published in Australia in 2008 revealed that on average, choral singers rated their satisfaction with life higher than the public – even when the problems faced by those singers were more complex than those faced by the public.’ [science.howstuffworks.com]. Singing decreases anxiety and stress, while like exercise, releases endorphins and releases more oxygen into the blood. Singing also emulates meditation by using the same deep breathing principles.

When you are part of a group, the feeling of belonging to the group often gravitates one away from the loneliness that combats many of us as we get older. In addition, a “stress-free” zone becomes concrete. Learning new songs, melodies, and harmonies play a great role in fending off depression.

Depending on the type of song being sung, doors to self-exploration swing open. Singing can unify a mass of people. Singing can heal pieces of our lives that we were unable to “fix” in any other way.

If you’re not convinced yet, An article on Everydayhealth.com talks about prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition that combines chronic bronchitis and emphysema, both of which are caused primary from smoking – “Singing keeps the chest muscles active, which slows the COPD process.”

Bottom line – Everyone can sing. Everyone should sing. And many don’t like how their voice at first. I know I didn’t. But the more you get familiar with your voice, confidence comes, and the world becomes so much more wide open.

Just days after the passing of Shyamdas, an influential figure in the Western World’s Kirtan Movement , I have finally gotten around to posting this blog. After attending a beautiful candlelight vigil/Community Kirtan at Bhakti Yoga Shala, I feel a lot more of the Bhakti Way flowing through each DNA strand of my being.

Let’s start at the core first. What IS kirtan? While kirtan translates to ‘praise’ or ‘eulogy’, many define it as call-and-response devotional singing/chanting to the many faces of Krishna. Kirtan involves chanting hymns and mantras, while instruments such as the harmonium, tabla, two-headed mrdanga, pakawaj drum and karatal hand cymbals are used to accompany the voice.

Kirtan(a) has quickly become a big part of my life, and I find myself chanting these mantras or bhajans as I wake up, when in distress, while I move throughout my day, and before I go to bed. It gives me a sense of peace or, as I call it, “instant meditation.” Kirtan goes straight to the anahata or heart chakra. It is, in my opinion, one of the deepest gifts you can offer to the Universe. Some also say that it is the most rapid way to enlightenment or Samadhi.

In my experience in kirtan, I have been attending Bhakti Yoga Shala’s monday night ‘Community Kirtan,’ compromised of Kirtan Leader, Govindas, and percussionists Clay and Arjuna O’Neal. In addition to the bliss I feel every time I step through the door, I always walk out so much more connected to the divine; to Krishna. It is here I have found my inner voice, through chants like bolo bolo sab mil bolo om namah shivaya. To see a room light up through a mass of call-and-response, followed by ecstatic dance creates a vast warmth throughout my chakra system. The amount of happiness I feel is unparalleled.

When asked how to describe kirtan, I simply smile and say, “You need to come with me to experience this.”

Much gratitude and thanks to Govindas, Radha, Clay, Arjuna, Bhakti Yoga Shala and The Universe for putting such a passionate pulse to my life.

The Eight of Wands reversed can indicate significant delays, particularly with regard to travel or fast-moving plans. Despite having a lot of energy and enthusiasm to progress things forward, you are now being faced with multiple obstacles in your course. This is incredibly frustrating and you may be growing increasingly impatient by the day. Keep looking for alternative ways around the obstacles presented so that you can carry out your plans.

On the flipside, the reversed Eight of Wands suggests that you are charging ahead with an idea or plan but you need to slow down and consider your next steps before continuing. You may be missing something in your haste and prone to making mistakes. Similarly, this card can be a sign to hold off your activities for a short amount of time until the situation becomes more stable and predictable.

You may also be prone to having many, many ideas at the one time and not knowing which to pursue and when. Just as you get started on implementing one idea, another one comes to mind and you quickly switch your focus. The trouble is that with this approach, you never actually accomplish anything because you are jumping from one idea to the next without finishing any of them.

As we get older and grow, we learn; we gain knowledge. As children, we play board games, card games, video games, read books, and inquire about the world around us.

Just the other day, I was watching two children interact, and it made me smile, seeing how full of curiosity and question they were. I feel as if we get older, and that quest for knowledge fades. We accept life as it is (I’m speaking from a viewpoint as a whole, not that there aren’t ones on the quest for knowledge). Many choose not to delve deeper into the abyss that is information they have not yet acquired. I contribute this to the ego.

How many times have you heard someone much older than you put their ego out there, saying, “ I am older than you. I know more. You should listen to me.”

But what about the younger generation that has also lived many lives previous to this one.

I know many younger souls that have similar abilities of reiki masters.

I love the times when I get an impulse to learn something, whether it be listening to new music, learning a new tidbit of information or a way to do something, etc.

Throughout my metaphysical journey, I have been connected to the Egyptian deity, Thoth. Thoth is noted as being the God of learning and wisdom. He was also the creator of writing.

Makes for the interesting thought… What if we were all to meditate upon Thoth and spark an artistic revolution? I challenge you… for one hour per day… Do something artistic. Learn something.

Learning is power. Never stop learning. Make art. Read a book. Talk to a stranger. Evolve.

The fervor worked up during this Native American dance is the very similar energy I feel when dancing. Dance is a ritual that is evoked through the chakras that releases energy through the Shasrara (crown chakra) into the universe.

I feel that too many people are afraid to dance spontaneously. Say you’re out walking and the urge to burst into step from a wicked beat comes. Do you dance or remain ‘conformed’ due to how other people around you perceive you?

The same goes for meditation. Music connects the soul to the Universe, and there have been times where I would prop up against a speaker, close my eyes and transcend. At those same events, there have been times where I’d open my eyes to find someone had joined me in meditation. But more often than not, just like spontaneous dance,

Yesterday, a friend and I had a conversation about what ‘spiritual’ music is. He asked me to define ‘New Age’ music. The only thing I could come up with is ‘spiritual,’ but that is based on what the western world perceives ‘new age’ to be. Most music has spiritual elements attached to them. As long as you are not producing music to make the next smash hit (aka selling out), and put your soul into what you create, this would define the music as spiritual.

…I nearly lost my train of thought…

Back on track…

The bottom line is, don’t allow the conformity of society prevent you from being… YOU. We are all individual in our own quirky little way, and none of us have the right to judge another based on ANYTHING. So just do you. Because that’s all you can do. Show appreciation and gratitude for those things that touch you. And if you feel the need to become a part of the action, DO IT. Because THAT is how movements get started.